 | Ibrahim, the Thirteenth Emperour of the Turks |  |
ACT II.
Enter Amurat, Solyman.Soly.
This is not sure that Amurat
Who foremost scaled the Walls of Babylon,
And cry'd aloud, Come on, who fears to die,
Deserves it—yet at a Letter now pauses,
Stops, turns pale, and seems to grow upon the
Earth he treads.
Am.
Thou art no judge, my Friend, you never loved,
Nor sure none ever loved like me,
If I acquir'd glory, 'twas for Morena's sake
That she might not despise me—
Nor have I more to do if she is lost.
Soly.
You terrify your self with groundless fears,
Nor can I from the Mufti's Letter
Discern a danger threatning towards your love
Am.
Oh Solyman! forgive the frailty of your Friend,
Forgive the follies that Imperious love creates,
Here the Mufti writes, that on earnest business
He craves my presence, if he hath discover'd
The Adoration that I pay his beauteous Daughter,
And then forbid it, how lost a thing is Amurat,
For I know well, though her poor Slave shou'd suffer
A thousand wracks, she'd tread the rigid paths of Duty,
And let me die, rather than forfeit her obedience.
Soly.
The Guard our Country lays on that fair charming Sex
Causes my wonder, how you have lov'd thus long conceal'd.
Am.
Kind Heav'n who saw my faithful suffering heart,
In pity thus disposed it, a trusty Slave at the
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Me admittance
To a Garden, which her Apartment overlook'd,
There, at that awful distance, did I Kneel,
Sent up my Vows with such an ardent zeal
Till at length I melted the heart of my fair
Listening Goddess;
And she from thence, as from an upper Orb of bliss
Sent down sweet words, and answering sighs,
The long expected Manna, for which with such
An Eagerness,
I had prayed—Ah Souldier! cou'd I impart
But one grain of this fierce passion which invades
My Soul, to thee; you no more wou'd wonder
If I almost Conquer'd Impossibilities to see Morena
Mark, how the flushing joy leaps to my Cheeks,
Oh! if her very name causes such boundings in my blood,
What wou'd her sight, what to press her in my Arms,
And tast her rosy Lips! excess of Joy wou'd work
The Effects of grief; and I shou'd fall a Victim
At her feet.
Soly.
Where Heaven gives the greatest hearts
We still the greatest Passions find,
And 'tis the brave alone love most and best.
Am.
My Dear Indulgent Friend, farewel,
At the usual Rendezvouz I'll be
Within few hours; and we'll return
Together to the Camp.
Soly.
Prosperity attend your Wishes.
[Exeunt severally.
Enter the Mufti, and Mustapha, Amurat meets them attended, amongst his Attendants Achmet.
Must.
Welcome Noble Youth, you're most welcome here,
Nor is your request forgot, though not obtain'd,
For your appearing publickly.
Am.
Where shall I pay my duty first?
Or which way Kneel? each is a Father,
And each too good for Amurat.
Must.
Most sure my Son, you never can
Enough acknowledge the bounties
Of this Reverend Man; whose early care
Shelter'd thy tender youth—
From the rough Blasts of Tyranny
And Faction, and by his Eloquence
Still render'd thee as now thou standest,
Favourite to the Prince, and People.
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My Friends, ye over-rate my Endeavours
To serve, and kindly take the will where power is wanting.
No, 'tis not I, 'tis our great Master, to whom
Half the Earth bows down their servile Necks:
Who, with one Almighty nod, can give a little World
Away, 'tis he shou'd Amurat reward, and bestow
A Kingdom, as his Valour due; yet lovely
Royal Warrior, if I have rightly found
The secret of thy heart, there is a present
In my power, which equal to a Crown you'll prize.
Morena Entering.
Am.
Ha!—
Muft.
Come forth, Morena, my Ages Darling,
And my hearts delight; Joy of my Eyes,
Lov'd object of all my Earthly hopes,
Lend me thy hand, and smile upon thy Father
When he gives thee to thy Wishes.
Am.
Where am I?
Thou transporting Image that dances thus
Before my dazled Eyes, art thou real?
Oh! that at the emptying half my Veins,
I were convinc'd this is no Dream.
Muft.
I saw your secret Love, watch'd the kindling fires,
And blest 'em as they sprang. Had I disapprov'd
They had been prevented e'er risen to a mutual flame,
But take her, Son, and Eternal Blessings Crown ye both.
Must.
He is already blest, what Monarch wou'd not forego
An universal sway for such a charming Maid?
Am.
Speak Goddess, speak! Angel, speak!
Let your sweet Voice confirm my Happiness,
That my beating heart may force its passage
Through my Breast, and fly to yours!
Mor.
O Amurat! spare my Tongue and Cheeks
The shame of owning what my Soul is full of;
And by my past Love, judge my present Joy!
Ach.
Aside.
Thy future Misery I can read.
Am.
'Tis so, and I am blest above all humane kind:
Reign, reign, ye unenvy'd Monarchs!
Fight for this Dunghil Earth, and let
The blood of thousand thousand Wretches,
Whom daily your Ambition Sacrifices,
Lie heavy on your guilty heads,
Whilst I, blest with this fair Heaven of Innocence,
This matchless, lovely, charming Creature,
More Worth than Indies joyn'd to Indies;
Than all the Sun e'er sees: am Happier
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Mor.
Cease these transports, my lov'd Lord,
Least fate grow angry at our Joys Excess,
And Dash them with Eternal Woes.
Muft.
Make hast, my Son, in your return
To the Camp, for fear the Emperour
Shou'd Discover our private meeting.
Within few days,
You will return with his Permission,
And from my Arms, receive the lov'd Morena
Into yours!
[Exeunt Mufti and Mustapha.
Am.
Oh Morena! my Morena, Now
Permit me to approach, and swear
Upon thy snowy bosom, how much
I love thee, till with warm sighs
I've thaw'd thy Virgin Icy Heart,
And made it burn like mine.
Mor.
What Maid can hear, and be unmov'd,
The Man she loves talk at this charming rate;
But Oh! I've read, that Men are all by Nature
False; and this dear pleasing tale of love,
To which I listen with such rapture,
Will hereafter be, perhaps, Word for Word
Repeated to another.
Am.
Never, Morena, never.
No, here kneeling in the Face of Heaven
I swear, that though our Law allows Plurality of Wives
And Mistresses, yet I will never practise it;
May Dishonour wrap my head with shame
Instead of Laurels; may I be beaten
Through the Army I command, and branded for a Coward,
When I admit another Love into my Bed or Bosom;
Let our great Master be Spectator of my Infamy,
And after that let me live.
Mor.
Hold, my dear Lord, fain wou'd I say something too
To answer all this wondrous love,
Were there a Man Valiant, good like my Amurat,
And greater than our mighty Sultan, yet wou'd I
Be torn in thousand pieces, rather than
Break my Plighted Faith.
Am.
No more my Life, what need of Oaths
When Love Cements our Hearts.
O! let me tast a parting Kiss,
The sweet memory of which
Will wing my swift return.
Mor.
What mean these tremblings here?
Why come these sighs uncall'd?
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You wont break your Vow.
Am.
Shall I swear again,
Never. Yet closer to thy heart.
By all these Virgin favours, never.
Here I set up my rest, and plant my Endless Joys
On this fair work of Nature;
When thou was't form'd, curious Heaven
Smil'd at the Exact Creation,
And every power was pleas'd. Oh! I am fix'd
For ever, till glory force me from thy Arms,
Then in all the Hazards of tempestuous War,
Thou, the Auspicious Star that I'll invoke,
Morena's Name shall guide my Sword to Conquest,
And after those Laborious Toils, eager and longing
For my bliss, the Laurels I have gain'd,
At thy feet I'll lay, Crown'd with thy love
And reigning in thy heart;
Such Raptures my transported Soul will seize,
I here shall find our Mahomet's Paradise.
Enter Sheker Para, and Mirra her Slave.
Shek.
Now is fate at work for me:
Achmet that busy Engine, that darling useful Eunuch,
Close as his genius traces my Hero's secret steps,
And on his Discovery my tortur'd Life depends.
If Amurat's aspiring Soul is only full of Plots
To raise him higher, fixt above the Visiers Power,
And faster in our Empires Honours, I am happy,
For I can further his Ambition; and he in gratitude
Must pay me back with Love, but Oh! I fear
The Victorious Prince full of charms, and blooming youth,
Is rather on the chase of Beauty, then he obtains
The glorious quarry, for though cast in a Cœlestial Mould
How cou'd a Nymph Divine resist him?
Mir.
Madam whilst you talk as if in dreams
Of Heavenly, and Imaginary Beauty,
You forget your own; the Prince I dare
Presume to affirm, fears to offer, doubting,
What he wishes, your Encouragement, and
Dreading our Sultan. You, Madam, know
'Tis safter far Razing Imperial Cities
Than aiming at a Mistress possess'd,
And valu'd by the mighty Ibrahim.
Shek.
True, Mirra, I have charm'd the wandring God
More variable than the Heathens Jove,
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The yielding fair, dissolves, and then
To her is seen no more; yet his Soul
Is rivetted to mine, hangs on the Musick
Of my tongue, nay late at my request
For the first blossoms of the early year, he gave
The obliging donor, the rich Kingdom of Natolia:
I look down on the Sultana Queens, despise
Their Pregnancy, and want of power.
Mir.
The Astonish'd World sees your amazing height,
And justly pays to you their Adoration.
Shek.
Ah Flatterer, to what hast thou betray'd me,
Whilst my boasting tongue swells with this
Vain story; my trembling foolish loving heart
Beats Alarm and presages all my hopes destroyed.
Enter Achmet, in a Mutes Habit.
Ha! Achmet, thy dress, thy looks, thy hast,
Discover thy Faith and Diligence—Oh
Quickly ease my tortur'd Soul!
Ach.
Madam, your last and Chief desire was
To see the Prince: if that's Effected
You must not stay to hear what I have learnt;
He passes, this moment through the remotest Gallery
That leads towards the Bosphorus, there
I suppose his Galley waits him, this Key
Shortens your walk, and you may
Meet him in the open space.
Shek.
Fly Achmet, to my Cabinet, and shift thee there
Then wait till my return—
I dare not ask thee—is he a Lover?
Ach.
Madam, he is; if you stay to hear more
You cannot see him.
Shek.
Yes, I will see him; though ten thousands ruine
Hung upon the fatal Interview!
[Exit.
The Scene changes to the prospect of the Sea.
Enter Amurat Mufled in his Robe.
Am.
to one Attend.
See here abouts for Solyman.
[Sheker Para, meets him.
Curst accident—how shall I avoid her.
Shek.
Ha! Mirra? is not that our Cœlebrated General?
Mir.
Doubtless, Madam, his very motion shews him
He cannot shroud his Glories.
Am.
Excuse me Ladies; a business
Relating only to my self, call'd me for some
Moments hither, without our Lords Permission.
Shek.
And is this the way we receive our Conquerours?
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To such exalted Vertue, drawn in the gaudy Chariot
The Noble warriors march'd a long, kindling
In the bright gazing Virgins loves soft fires,
And in the wandring youths Wars fierce
Martial Heats, if through our crowded streets
Mounted high on Persian ruines,
Successful Amurat were to pass (Pardon
My blushes) when I say I think not Rome's
Fam'd Cæsar, or her darling Pompey, cou'd
Be more admir'd, esteem'd, or lov'd.
Am.
When a Lady praises, I am Dumb.
Shou'd a Man say this, I must call it
Flattery, and I'll resent it.
Shek.
Fames Trumpet blows aloud, I
Catch but the Echo, and repeat it faintly,
Yet I cou'd wish my self an Emulator
In your glory, a Man, your Companion
In the War, for something I wou'd do
To gain your Friendship; prevent
The lifted Arm of fate, and in my Breast
Receive some wound design'd for you.
Am.
War, with its rough Idea, ought not Madam,
To Disturb your gentler mind, by varying
Nature order'd the sweet mansion of love
And soft desires.
Shek.
But Almighty Nature sometimes fills
Our Souls with both: as I Ambitious
Look up to War, so you methinks,
Too Godlike Hero, might look down to love.
Am.
'Tis looking upwards, Madam, surely
When we think of love; for beauty
The resemblance bears of Heaven,
Love is a pleasing Theme, but I must
Indulge my Ears no longer, least
I forget my Duty, which in my swift
Return's exprest.
[Is going.
Shek.
Fly not with such unwelcome hast.
If you are pleased with any thing
That I can say, I'll take care for
Your excuse, or stay.
Am.
Madam, I have left the Army without
Their necessary Orders, I cannot now
Accept your offer'd favour.
Shek.
Let Confusion be Instead of Order
If your heart's like mine; for mine is all
Tumultuous, Oh General!
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For I have lov'd thee long—You
Perhaps despise the Jewel, because 'tis offer'd,
But know Visier Bashaws, the greatest
Of our Port, in vain have beg'd a smile.
Am.
To the greatest in the Port, and World;
Your smiles are due, and I injure him
When I hear this. Farewel.
[Exit.
Shek.
Gone! O Devil!
Keep down, thou swelling Heart!
Or higher rise, that I may tear
Thee with my teeth! Mirva!
Break all the flattering Mirrors!
Let me ne'er behold this rejected Face again!
Have I seen Scepter'd Slaves kneeling
At my feet, forgetting they were Kings,
Forgetful of their Gods, calling alone on me;
Passing whole days and hours as if measur'd
With a Moments Sand, and now refus'd
By a Curst Beardless Boy! my Arms too
Open'd, all my Charms laid forth! (for
The Joys of Love are double, when our
Sex desires) heedless and cold he flew
From my Embrance; swift as I will do
To form his ruine—Achmet! I come!
'Tis he must raise this raging Tempest higher,
Though cold to me, his Bosom's sure on fire.
[Exeunt.
| Ibrahim, the Thirteenth Emperour of the Turks | |